Bootlast



J. KRAMER.

BOOTLAST.

APPLICATSON FILED MAY I4. 919.

1,409; 1 3, Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

JOHN KRAMER, OF AKRON, OHIOQASSIGNO COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO B To THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BOOTLAST.

' Application filed m 14,

To. all whom-r it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN Knmann, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bootlasts, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a boot last for use in the manufacture of rubber boot-s or shoes, and its object is to provide a simple and effective means for unitingthe'leg portion and the toe portion of the'last. The last is so constructed that the two portions will'not become loose due to wear, but the constant tendency is to draw them closer together so that objectionable crevices are avoided around the edges of the separable parts of the last.

These and other objects will appear as the description proceeds, it being understood that this invention is not limited to the exact form shown herein, but may be modified in many respects.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a last the lower part being in section.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, the lower portion being in sections on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings 1 represents the main or leg portion of the last, and 2 the removable or toe portion thereof. The last is divided into the two portions by an angular out, preferably at right angles, of which the transverse cut is designated at 3 and the longitudinal or vertical cut at 4;. Along the vertical wall of the leg portion is formed a dovetail rib, or other suitable form of guide 5, and in the toe portion is cut a mating groove 6, whereby a sliding interlocking con tact is provided between the two portions of the last.

To the upper end of the rib is secured, by means of a bolt 7, a latch in the form of a flat spring 8, which is provided at a suitable point, preferably midway, with a V-shaped latching formation or notch 9. The lower end of the spring is bent outwardly slightly as atlO, to permit the entrance of a locking rod or pin 11, which is fastened in the toe portion of the last and bridges the slot provided for the dovetail rib. The locking rod is so located with respect to the notch in the spring that when the two parts of the last I v Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Mar. 7, 1922. 1919. Serial No. 297,103.

are forced together, the rod rests against the lower inclined side of the notch in the spring. The inclination of the notch is such that the toe portion is constantlyforced up against the surface 3 and over'against the surface 4 of the right angled out. In this manner the-two parts-are always drawn together and held in tight relation and the looseness due to wear on the parts is taken up. lVhile the tongue and groove connec tion prevents lateral separation of the lastsections, there is if course some lateral looseness which islcompensated for by the spring .8 which forces the toe-section 2 laterally and snugly against the leg-section of the last.

The action derived from the location of the pin or rod and latch is of great value as there is no tendency for the two parts to spread as they wear down from use. In all other constructions known to me, the tendency of the latch has been to force the two parts of the last away from each other. I have avoided this action and at the same time have retained a connection between the parts which can be operated by a slight pull on the part of the operator, and will maintain the two parts in assembled relation while the boot is being built and cured.

The invention is capable of variations in details, location of the parts, and other matters within mechanical skill, and such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of the invention are intended to be covered herein.

I claim:

1. A boot last comprising a leg portion and a toe portion divided on a right angular cut, a sliding undercut tongue and groove connection between said portions, and a latch to hold said parts in assembled relation, saidlatch being formed so as to exert a constant tendency to draw the two parts together along both sides of the angular cut to compensate for looseness.

2. A boot last comprising a leg portion and a toe portion divided along two cuts angularly arranged, a rib on one of said portions and a groove on the other portion mating therewith, a spring latch secured to one of said portions, a pin on the other portion, and an angular formation on the latch to receive the pin.

A boot last comprising a leg portion and a toe portion divided along two cuts angularly arranged, a rib on one of said por therewith, a spring tions and a groove on the other portion mating therewith, a spring'latch secured to one a of said portions,'a pin on the other portion, and an angular formation on the latch to receive the pin, the location of the pin and angular formation serving to draw the two portions together.

i. A boot last compri ng aleg; portion and a toe portion divided along two outs angularly arranged, a. rib on one of said portions, a groove on the other portion mating secured to one of said portions, a V-shaped latch formation in the spring, a pin on the other portion to contact with the spring when the parts are assembled and to bear against one side of the V-shapedformation. r

5. A boot last comprising a leg portion and a toe portion divided along a right angled cut, a dovetail rib on the leg portion, a mating groove on the toe portion, a flat spring secured at its upper end to the rib,

a pin secured transversely of the toe portion and adjacent the rib, a l-shaped'notoh in thespring, adapted to receive the pin, the V pin resting against the lower diagonal wall of said'notch. 1 i i 6. A last divided intoseparable sections, onesection having an open ended undercut groove, the other section having a headed tongue to 7' slidably fit 1 the grooveyaileaf spring latch secured at one end alongside the tongue, and a cross bar extending across the groove and receivable between the tongue and latch, the latch having a seat to receive the cross bar in the assembled positions of the last-sections. a p p 7. A' boot last comprising a leg portion and a toe portion divided along two outs angularly arranged and means to hold said portions in assembled relation, said'nicans also including means exerting a constant tendency to draw both said cuts to compensaterfor looseness in the joint.

J OHN KRAMER the parts together along 

